Leonard, Raptors near first historic NBA title
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kawhi Leonard’s hot hand is sending the Raptors home to Toronto on the cusp of a startling upset for Canada.
Leonard outdueled the Splash Brothers for 36 points and 12 rebounds, and the Raptors moved within one victory of the franchise’s first championship by winning a second straight game on Golden State’s home floor, beating the Warriors 105-92 on Friday night for a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.
Klay Thompson made a strong return after missing Game 3 with a strained left hamstring and scored 28 points with six 3-pointers in what might have been the final game after 47 seasons at Oracle Arena before the team’s move to new Chase Center in San Francisco next season. Stephen Curry added 27 points but shot just 9 for 22 and 2 of 9 from 3-point range on the heels of his postseason career-best 47-point outing in a 123-109 Game 3 defeat.
Serge Ibaka scored 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting in 22 minutes off the bench for the composed and confident Raptors, who for a second straight game found an answer to every Warriors threat at raucous Oracle — where home fans were stunned and silenced when the final buzzer sounded.
A huge section of Toronto fans over, repeatedly singing “O Canada!”
The two-time defending champions’ quest for a three-peat is suddenly in serious jeopardy.
Toronto will take its first try at the title in Game 5 on Monday night back at Scotiabank Arena. Golden State, still hopeful of injured star Kevin Durant’s return, must stave off elimination to guarantee one more game at Oracle. It would be next Thursday.
Leonard’s 2017 postseason with San Antonio got cut short against the Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals after he re-injured his troublesome left ankle when Zaza Pachulia’s foot slid under his.
He’s picked up where he left off in that game. Leonard’s two jumpers in the final 42 seconds of the third put the Raptors up 79-64 heading into the final 12 minutes. Fred VanVleet then dealt another dagger on the first possession of the fourth
player, mockingly danced before league officials and, worst, foulmouthed the girlfriend of a fellow player by calling her a “bitch.”
Each of the three infractions is enough reason to bundle Abueva out of the league.
If you ask me, his indefinite suspension is too light. You want to hit him where it hurts the most? Fine him P1 million. Ban him for life.
I know he’s got a family, kids. But did he ever think of them before he did those dastardly acts?
Commissioner Marcial, you want to teach someone a lesson, go for the jugular. Banish him to Timbuktu. Siberia would be heaven.